ta84-355

I've been lurking and searching these boards for years now. But I'm still not sure what heads to get. I've got a CSB 355 engine, EFI converted carb. intake. And I'm almost finished installing my custom turbo setup. The car is mostly used on the street but will attend a few races every year.
So this is what I think I need.

1. A pair of aluminum heads with at least 72 cc chambers (to help keep the compr. low). Probably around 195-210 cc intake runner and a lot of flow.

2. I've got around $1.300 to spend on this.. I can't really afford more..

I'm going to visit Denver,CO/USA in a few weeks so I was thinking of buying the heads while I'm there.

Should I go with a bigger intake or keep it a little smaller for better driveability on the street. I've got a manual transmission.

Please show me in the right direction: combination, head brand and also reseller would be great information.

/Anders, Sweden

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

I would look at a set of AFR's. They make just about anything you need for crazy set-ups like yours. You are going to have a hard time staying within your budget though. Do you have a preference if it is iron or alum? You have more choise with an iron head but aluminum would be the way to go.

stevedave454

on ebay you can get AFR's for around $1300 i believe... might have to go with used heads, but if your limited to $1300 right now, and want a really good head you might just get a used set in good condition, then save up a couple hundred more and get a valve job or whatever on em.... i just checked ebay and one company is selling AFR ford heads (new) for $1300 shipped... i know we are talking chevy here but could it be THAT much more? LT1 heads are going for $1600-$1800 and id imagine standard SBC heads would be cheaper than that.. if you cant afford that i've heard good things about pro lightening and dart iron eagle... you'd have to go cast iron to stay in your budget though

305RSlc

You can get a set of protopline heads for a little under 1300 I believe. They come with 3 angle valve job and some pretty impressive flow numbers. I dunno how well they would work with a power adder, but just another choice for ya.

B4Ctom1

pro topline irons are nice but the aluminums like the 200cc ones I got were only about $1000 but they require a special set of studs to go on and the ports are taller than a 1205 gasket and narrow as stock which means a special intake or massive porting is required to both intake and head to fit without mis-match.

D M N

corvette heads (L98) there aluminum and have 76cc combustion chamber and you can get them dirt cheap of ebay or bone yard.

JoBy

Actually the iron TPI Corvette heads (#462624) have 76cc chambers.
The '86-'87 (#14101128) and '88-'91 (#10088113) aluminum TPI Corvette heads both have 58cc chambers.

B4Ctom1

are those iron corvette ones you are talking about center bolt style?

what about the iron L98 camaro/firebird ones arent they 64cc?

JoBy

All corvette centerbolt heads are aluminum.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

Aluminum L98 heads = 58 cc
Iron L98 heads = 64 cc

B4Ctom1

yeah thats more like what I know it to be.

83 Crossfire TA

iTrader: (2)

624's shouldn't be on a 'vette unless they were replaced at some time. I believe that most 624's came on trucks and were used as "service replacements" from the dealer for a while. They should also use parimeter bolt VS's

305RSlc

Really? I never heard of this such thing. Is that the same case with the iron heads or have you just had experience with the aluminums? Just wondering cuz I am thinking about buying a set eventually to go on my 383.

D M N

58cc?? are you sure?? do you have a website that might back that up because i thought it was 78cc.

JoBy

The #462624 heads have 76cc chambers and they ARE the stock heads om 1982, 1984 and 1985 Corvettes.
They are probably the stock heads on early 1986 Corvettes with iron heads too.

D M N

Thank i knew that corvettes had bigger combustion chambers then 58cc

JoBy

Yes, but only on the older iron heads. The Aluminum heads ( 1986-1991) have 58cc.

D M N

ohh ok thats where i got it wrong thanks

B4Ctom1

I also failed to mention in my last post that the spark plugs are real hard to find unless you care to risk using projected tip plugs. There was a huge post recently over in the "aftermarket product review" area. I made a post there. The guys with the irons all were happy and it worked out fine for them. I had to find out the hard way, on my own. I figured hey they are regular aluminum heads how different could they be? It was a learning experience. I wished I had just gotten two sets of AFR's instead of trying to go cheap on one set and finding out in the long run it cost me more

305RSlc

dang, thanks for the info. Aluminum heads for 1 grand...knew something had to be too good to be true..

B4Ctom1

The good news is that I bought my AFR 195's new in box on ebay for $950.

I saw a set of similarly sized used dart alum heads in classified here for $700 the other day. So you might want to check there.

ta84-355

Yes I've seen a lot of good deals on Ebay but my problem is that I'm going over to USA from Sweden for only 6 days. I can hardly make an ebay deal while I'm over there. That's why I'd like to get in touch with a company that sells a good aftermarket alu-head.

I really don't want to get a set of used TPI heads, the design is old. The Pro Topline looks good but seem to be a little weak in the mid lift range.

And I guess noone is willing to sell their AFR 195 to me for 1.300. :-)
The AFR 195 looks like a candidate, if I could get a pairm for the right price.

/Anders

B4Ctom1

$1300 is how much they cost

Sounds like you need to set up a relationship with a owner of a Mail Boxes ETC (now callled the UPS store) and order it all sent there just before you get there and show up to pick it up within a reasonable few days.

fireturd350

iTrader: (8)

SBC 195cc Street Heads — $1275/pair, Shipping Included
AFR SBC 195cc Street Heads, Angle Plug w/Heat Riser, 74cc Chambers, Complete w/Parts #1021
AFR SBC 195cc Street Heads, Angle Plug w/Heat Riser, 68cc Chambers, Complete w/Parts #1026
AFR SBC 195cc Street Heads, Straight Plug w/Heat Riser, 74cc Chambers, Complete w/Parts #1036
AFR SBC 195cc Street Heads, Straight Plug w/Heat Riser, 68cc Chambers, Complete w/Parts #1034
AFR SBC 195cc Street Heads, L98 Angle Plug w/Heat Riser, 74cc Chambers, Complete w/Parts #1038
AFR SBC 195cc Street Heads, L98 Angle Plug w/Heat Riser, 68cc Chambers, Complete w/Parts #1040


Right from the guys at tenacious performance. http://www.tenperf.com/

ta84-355

I wonder why I haven't found that site before - that's a far better price than I've seen before. But then again, it's not easy being updated with the american stores while you're in Sweden.

Though I buy High Performance Chevy once in a while.

Thanks for the tip, AFR's in reach... I'll send them a mail.

/Anders

a73camaro

Kinda of a long way to fly for cylinder heads. Kinda like if I were to fly to Sweden to buy a Saab.

Hope you have a good stay here. Bad spring skiing conditions.

JoBy

I took a weekend trip from Sweden to Houston, TX to get my AFR heads and some other stuff.

D M N

I live in H-town where did you go??

JoBy

I don't remember the name of the place. I had the parts shipped to a friend of mine there. I visited him over the weekend and not paying Swedish customs and tax on the parts paid for the trip.

D M N

cool

ta84-355

As I said, customs + taxes add around 30% to the USD 1300 the heads cost.

I'm going over to Denver to attend a computer class, so it's not just for the heads. :-)

I'm waiting for an answer from Ten... company, haven't heard anything from them yet.

Thanks for making my mind up, AFR's the way to go...

/Anders

B4Ctom1

Anders when will you be there?

p.s. GO FOPA! he plays in denver you know?